Explore Lanzhou with unlimited 4G/5G pocket WiFi from ChinaWiFiGo
Hotel delivery · No Chinese ID required · Full Google access
View Plans & PricingArea: 13,086 km²
Population: ~4.4 million (2020)
Lanzhou means "orchid state" in Chinese. It is the capital of Gansu Province and a key city on the upper Yellow River and the ancient Silk Road.
7.0/10 — Residents enjoy a balanced lifestyle with modern amenities and cultural richness.
Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport (LHW) serves domestic and international flights. Lanzhou Railway Station and Lanzhou West Station are major rail hubs. The city has two metro lines (Lines 1 and 2).
Lanzhou University, Northwest Normal University, and Lanzhou University of Technology are major institutions.
Lanzhou lies in a narrow valley along the Yellow River surrounded by mountains. It has a semi-arid continental climate and is an important industrial and transport hub.
Visit the Zhongshan Bridge (First Bridge over the Yellow River), White Pagoda Mountain, Gansu Provincial Museum (with the Flying Horse of Gansu), and the Water Wheel Garden.
Day 1: Zhongshan Bridge, White Pagoda Mountain, and the Gansu Provincial Museum.
Day 2: Water Wheel Garden and Lanzhou Old Town.
Lanzhou is famous for hand-pulled beef noodles (Lanzhou lamian), lamb skewers,灰豆子 (sweet bean soup), and Niangpi (cold skin noodles).
Buy Gansu dried fruits, Lanzhou water lily, saffron, and local noodles. Main shopping areas include Zhangye Road and Xiguan.
Local Vibe: Lanzhou is the gritty heart of the Silk Road, where the Yellow River cuts through a narrow valley. Locals are proud of their beef noodles, their river, and their role as a gateway between Tibet, Xinjiang, and central China. The city is busy, dusty, and full of noodle shops open at all hours.
Fun Facts:
• Lanzhou beef noodles are one of China's most famous noodle soups, and the city has entire streets of noodle shops.
• The city is the only provincial capital through which the Yellow River flows.
• Lanzhou was a key stop on the Silk Road and remains a hub for trains heading west to Xinjiang and Tibet.
Lanzhou locals speak their own flavor of Mandarin. Try these phrases to earn a smile:
攒劲 (zǎn jìn) — Excellent / vigorous — a classic Lanzhou compliment.
哪哒 (nǎ dá) — Where.
夯客 (hāng kè) — Foolish person (playful).
• Zhang Qian — The Han dynasty explorer opened the Silk Road through the Gansu corridor that runs through Lanzhou.
• Zhang Yimou — The famous director was born in Xi'an but studied and began his career in the northwest, including Lanzhou.
• Huang Jiguang — A Korean War hero born in Sichuan, but Lanzhou is home to a famous memorial honoring him.
Get unlimited 4G/5G pocket WiFi delivered to your hotel. No Chinese ID needed.
View Plans from $4.99/day Get Custom Quote
